The Sacred Church of Koimisi of the Theotokos in Neo Iraio
The church of Koimisi of the Theotokos [dormition of the Virgin] is one of the most important Byzantine monuments in Argolis. The church is of the complex four-column cross-in-square type with a dome. Some parts of the church, such as the octagonal dome and the gabled ends of the transverse arm of the cross were probably re-constructed during the second Venetian occupation. To the east, it has three, three-sided arches and to the west, a narthex. The church has all the characteristics of the important Mid-Byzantine churches in Argolis (the catholicon of the Monastery of Nafplio, Koimisi of Agia Triada, Panagia of Argos). It stands on a three-level crepidoma [a step-like platform], and its masonry is granite, used in the cloisonné system. On the exterior, large stone bricks form stone crosses, while the ceramic decoration gives life to the masonry, to an impressive effect. Pseudo-Kufic designs are placed between the joints, along with crosses, disepsilons and astragals, whilst the other surfaces have running zigzag bands.
Great attention was paid to the eastern side of the church, where large stone blocks were used in the masonry, up to the base of the windows, giving the impression of marble revetments topped by a carved stone cornice. The original tri-lobe [three panes] window in the central nave was later replaced with small slits. The windows in the parabemata [the chapels on either side of the altar] were bi-lobe [two panes] with horseshoe-shaped arches, constructed out of bricks.
The original pictorial decoration in the interior has not survived. The unfluted columns have capitals with a floral decoration and date from the beginning of the 12th century, when the monument was built.
